Mangano Announces Brick 26 Challenge at Eisenhower Park

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano was joined by Veterans Service Agency Director Joseph Pascarella; former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra; MMA Fighters Eddie Truck” Gordon, Pete “Drago” Sell, and Tom “The Terror English”; members of the Band “Non Stop to Cairo;” along with members of the newly incorporated non-profit organization Brick 26 Board; and local veterans in the veterans’ memorial at in East Meadow to announce the County Executive Brick 26 Challenge.

The challenge is aimed at raising money to support local veterans and for the construction of a new monument in Nassau County. The event is scheduled for Aug. 4 at Eisenhower Park.

“With many of our heroes returning home and a growing number of local veterans in need of financial, emotional and physical assistance events such as the Brick 26 Challenge can be of great assistance,” Mangano said. “I want to thank all of the supporters and sponsors who have gotten behind this idea and given of their time and talents to help and make this event a success. Their generosity will go a long way in helping our local heroes who have given up so much to protect our freedom.”

The challenge, which is appropriately named for the weight of the five bricks that participants carry throughout the 10K racecourse in a backpack, is designed to test participants with a variety of obstacle courses along the route. From a one mile Honor Walk to a 10k course in which participants carry 26 pounds of bricks in a backpack with four military represented boot camps. The event will appeal to all levels of athletes. Approximately 1,000 people are expected to participate.

Each course for the event is designed for many levels, from the walker to the ultra-athlete. In each case, at least one brick is carried by the participant throughout the course and collected at the end. All bricks will be used toward the construction of a monument to be placed outside the Nassau County Veterans Services Agency building in East Meadow. 

Each tower of the monument will stand 26 bricks high and feature an engraved dedication to our veterans. Personalized bricks may be purchased for a $100 donation. The name and rank of the veteran will appear on a metal plate attached to a monument brick.

One hundred percent of the funds raised will be donated to non-profit veteran groups including Semper4Soldiers, Honor Flight and a Veteran Hofstra Scholarship. Ninety-five percent of the proceeds will remain on Long Island while five percent is earmarked for a national veteran organization. 

For general information, email info@brick26.org. For volunteer questions, email volunteer@brick26.org.